Guidance indicator and system for providing egress assistance

Abstract

A system, a device and a method for providing directional indication are provided. The system includes a detector ( 113 ) configured to sense a condition, a guidance indicator ( 117 ) configured to provide an indication regarding a path for egress, and a control unit configured to control the guidance indicator based on a signal from the detector.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A guidance system for directing safe egress from a building comprising:
 at least one exit sign, each exit sign having at least one first guidance indicator, each exit sign being disposed at select locations within the building; 
 at least one second guidance indicator located only at each egress within the building, each at least one second guidance indicator selectively activated to illuminate distinct indicia indicating a corresponding distinct predefined condition, the predefined condition being selected from a group consisting of safe, dangerous, and caution; 
 at least one third guidance indicator disposed at select locations within the building, 
 each of the first, second and third guidance indicators having indicia thereon for directing traffic towards a calculated safe egress, at least each of the first, second and third guidance indicators being coupled to a primary power source; 
 at least one sensor disposed at select locations within the building, the at least one sensor detecting a predefined dangerous condition; 
 a secondary power source coupled to each of the first, second and third guidance indicators, the secondary power source selectively providing secondary power upon failure of the primary power source; and 
 a control communicating with each of the first, second and third guidance indicators and the at least one sensor, the control determining a crisis state and a sensed dangerous location based on the predefined dangerous condition sensed by the at least one sensor, the control calculating a safe route within the building based upon the sensed dangerous location towards the calculated safe egress, and illuminating the distinct safe indicia of one of the at least one second guidance indicator and illuminating the distinct dangerous indicia of another of the at least one second guidance indicator in accordance with the calculated safe route thereby directing traffic away from the sensed dangerous location, wherein when the control further calculates all egress as dangerous, the control automatically illuminates the same distinct caution indicia at each of the second guidance indicators. 
 
     
     
       2. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one exit sign comprises a replacement exit sign for existing exit signs within said building. 
     
     
       3. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 1 , wherein the distinct indicia indicating the safe, dangerous, and caution predefined conditions are green, red, and yellow colored light sources, respectively. 
     
     
       4. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 3 , wherein said colored light sources comprise an LED. 
     
     
       5. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one third guidance indicator comprises an illuminated indicia to indicate direction to follow, condition, or state with respect to a predetermined immediate area around said third guidance indicator. 
     
     
       6. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 5 , wherein each said at least one third guidance indicator comprises a colored light source. 
     
     
       7. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 1 , wherein each said at least one sensor comprises a sensor selected from a group consisting of a harmful gas sensor, heat sensor, smoke sensor, and audio sensor. 
     
     
       8. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 7 , wherein said audio sensor comprises a mic to detect sounds indicative of gunshots and explosions. 
     
     
       9. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one speaker coupled to each at least one exit sign, said at least one speaker facilitating audible alarms, announcements, and other sounds during the crisis. 
     
     
       10. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second guidance indicator comprises a colored light source, said colored light source illuminating indicia for a safe exit. 
     
     
       11. The guidance system for directing safe egress according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said first, second and third guidance indicators are in effective communication with said control regarding their respective operational status. 
     
     
       12. A method for directing traffic towards a safe egress during times of crisis comprising the steps of:
 providing a guidance system comprising; 
 a) at least one exit sign, each exit sign having at least one first guidance indicator, each exit sign being disposed at select locations within a building; 
 b) at least one second guidance indicator located only at each egress within the building, each at least one second guidance indicator selectively activated to illuminate distinct indicia indicating a corresponding distinct predefined condition, the predefined condition being selected from a group consisting of safe, dangerous, and caution; 
 c) at least one third guidance indicator disposed at select locations within the building; 
 d) each of the first, second and third guidance indicators having indicia thereon for directing traffic towards a calculated safe egress, at least each of the first, second and third guidance indicators being coupled to a primary power source; 
 e) at least one sensor disposed at select locations within the building, the at least one sensor detecting a predefined dangerous condition; 
 f) a secondary power source coupled to the guidance indicators, the secondary power source selectively providing power upon failure of the primary power source; and 
 g) a control communicating with each of the first, second and third guidance indicators and the at least one sensor, the control determining a crisis state and a sensed dangerous location based on the predefined dangerous condition sensed by the at least one sensor, the control calculating: 
 i) a safe route within the building based upon the sensed dangerous location towards the calculated safe egress, and illuminating the distinct safe indicia of one of the at least one second guidance indicator and illuminating the distinct dangerous indicia of another of the at least one second guidance indicator in accordance with the calculated safe route thereby directing traffic away from the sensed dangerous location; and 
 ii) when the control further calculates all egress as dangerous, the control automatically illuminates the same distinct caution indicia at each of the second guidance indicators; 
 detecting existence of the predefined dangerous condition with the at least one sensor; 
 determining a crisis state based on the predefined dangerous condition sensed by the at least one sensor; 
 calculating a safe route within the building based upon the sensed dangerous location towards the safe egress; 
 activating the distinct safe indicia of one of the at least one second guidance indicator in accordance with the calculated safe route to direct traffic away from dangerous areas within the building towards the safe egress; 
 calculating a dangerous route within the building based upon the sensed dangerous location; 
 activating the distinct dangerous indicia of another of the at least one second guidance indicator in accordance with the calculated dangerous route to direct traffic away from dangerous areas within the building towards the safe egress; and 
 determining when all egress is calculated as dangerous to automatically illuminate the distinct caution indicia at each of the second guidance indicators. 
 
     
     
       13. The method for directing traffic towards a safe egress during times of crisis according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one exit sign comprises the step of providing a replacement exit sign for existing exit signs within said building. 
     
     
       14. The method for directing traffic towards a safe egress during times of crisis according to  claim 12 , wherein the distinct indicia indicating the safe, dangerous, and caution predefined conditions are green, red, and yellow colored light sources, respectively. 
     
     
       15. The method for directing traffic towards a safe egress during times of crisis according to  claim 12 , wherein said step of providing a guidance system comprises the step of providing an illuminated indicia to each said at least one third guidance indicator, said illuminated indicia indicating direction to follow, condition, or state with respect to a predetermined immediate area around said third guidance indicator. 
     
     
       16. The method for directing traffic towards a safe egress during times of crisis according to  claim 12 , wherein each said at least one sensor comprises the step of providing a sensor selected from a group consisting of a harmful gas sensor, heat sensor, smoke sensor, and audio sensor. 
     
     
       17. The method for directing traffic towards a safe egress during times of crisis according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of detecting sounds indicative of gunshots and explosions. 
     
     
       18. The method for directing traffic towards a safe egress during times of crisis according to  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one speaker coupled to each at least one exit sign; and 
 sounding audible alarms, announcements, and other sounds during the crisis.